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Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and affection,

fulfill my joy; so that you are like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one judgment.

So that nothing is done through self-interest or empty pride. But that in humility, everyone thinks others better than himself.

Do not be preoccupied with your own things, but rather with the things of others.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus;

Who, being in the form of God, did not eagerly desire equality with God as a prize.

But He emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant (and the likeness of a man, having been made).

He humbled Himself and became obedient to the death - even the death of the cross.

Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a Name above every Name.

10 That at the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow: in Heaven, and on Earth, and under the Earth.

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me - not only in my presence, but now much more so in my absence - work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God who works in you - both in your will and in your works - according to His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

15 so that you may be blameless and pure children of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a perverted and crooked nation (among whom you shine as lights in the world),

16 Hold forth the word of life, so that I may rejoice on the day of Christ that I have not run for nothing or labored for nothing.

17 Indeed, and though I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all!

18 And likewise also, you be glad and rejoice with me!

19 And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.

20 For I have no one of like mind who will faithfully care for your matters.

21 For all seek their own, and not that which is Jesus Christ’s.

22 But you know the proof of him who, as a child with his father, has served with me in the Gospel.

23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I know how it will go with me.

24 And I trust in the Lord that I, myself, shall also come shortly.

25 But I thought it necessary to send to you my brother, fellow laborer, and fellow soldier, Epaphroditus (who is now your messenger and minister to my needs).

26 For he longed after all of you, and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick.

27 And no doubt he was sick, very near to death. But God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, so that I should not have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 Therefore, I sent him all the more speedily, so that when you would see him again you might rejoice and I might be the less sorrowful.

29 Therefore, receive him in the Lord with all joy. And value such men highly.

30 Because he was near death for the work of Christ and did not regard his life, to fulfill that service which was lacking on your part toward me.

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(A) if any tenderness and compassion,(B) then make my joy complete(C) by being like-minded,(D) having the same love, being one(E) in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(G) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(H)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(I)

Who, being in very nature[a] God,(J)
    did not consider equality with God(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(L)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(M)
    being made in human likeness.(N)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(O)
        even death on a cross!(P)

Therefore God exalted him(Q) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(R)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(S)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(T)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(U)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(V) 13 for it is God who works in you(W) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(X)

14 Do everything without grumbling(Y) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(Z) and pure, “children of God(AA) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c](AB) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ(AC) that I did not run(AD) or labor in vain.(AE) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(AF) on the sacrifice(AG) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(AH) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(AI) to you soon,(AJ) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(AK) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(AL) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(AM) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.(AN) 24 And I am confident(AO) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker(AP) and fellow soldier,(AQ) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(AR) 26 For he longs for all of you(AS) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,(AT) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,(AU) 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form
  3. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5